WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama told House Democrats Wednesday morning that they should not believe everything in the Huffington Post, referring to the liberal publication’s critiques of Larry Summers, the President’s former economic advisor whom he is now considering as a possible chairman of the Federal Reserve.
Rep. Brad Sherman of California told reporters after the meeting that Obama offered a “spirited defense of Larry Summers,” after Rep. Ed Perlmutter of Colorado voiced some concerns about his possible nomination.
Asked what, specificially, Obama had said, Sherman replied: “Not to believe everything you read in the Huffington post.”
“And,” he went on, “that it’s unfair to criticize Summers for the fact that the stimulus bill wasn’t even larger because who amongst us thinks that you could have passed a larger stimulus bill. And, you know, lauded Larry for his incredible hard work in the administration.”
“He wasn’t there to tell us who he was going to pick as chair of the Fed, just that Larry Summers deserves thanks for his work and recognition of his ability,” Sherman added.